Tacoma, Washington, is a vibrant city and home to a wide variety of creative people, including writers, musicians, photographers, and entrepreneurs of every stripe. If you’re moving to Tacoma, WA, and need detailed information about this phenomenal city, the information below will be just what you’re looking for! It’s a comprehensive moving guide to Tacoma, brought to you by the storage experts at Northwest Self Storage! Read on to learn more about what makes Tacoma tick and get your new life started on the right foot!
Things to Consider When Moving to Tacoma
Tacoma, Washington, sits directly on the shores of Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest. It’s known for its relatively mild but rainy climate with a stunning and picturesque view of the Cascade Mountains and Mount Rainier. While not the most affordable city in the United States, Tacoma is known as a reasonably priced city and has a population of just under 220,000 inhabitants. Tacoma is also known for having phenomenal summer weather, incredible cuisine, and a high level of entrepreneurship and creativity.
Tacoma’s Cost of Living
Tacoma is one of the more affordable major cities in Washington state, with a cost of living index of 118/100. (The U.S. average is 100.) A few notable cost indicators in Tacoma include transportation, which is 119.3/100, about 20% higher than the national average. Miscellaneous costs are also higher than the national average at 129.4/100. Healthcare, however, comes in at an affordable 88.3/100, about 12% lower than the national average.
Tacoma’s Housing Market
There’s no denying that Tacoma’s housing costs are on the high side. For example, the housing index is 148.2/100, nearly 50% higher than the national average. The median home cost in Tacoma is $470,000, about $130,000 higher than the U.S. average. That is a tough nut to crack for many American families and is one reason why only 56% of residents in Tacoma own their homes.
Weather in Tacoma
One thing that stands out in Tacoma when talking about the weather is the fact that it rains quite a bit. Tacoma gets about 41 inches of rain annually, much higher than most major cities. However, the summertime comfort index end is 9.3/10, which is nearly perfect. Summer weather is typically mild, with low humidity and many sunny days. Winter in Tacoma is relatively mild thanks to the city’s location on Puget Sound. There are less than 30 days of freezing weather from November through March, substantially less than in most major cities.
Tacoma’s Top 6 Neighborhoods
Tacoma has 71 constituent neighborhoods, which makes it the third largest in Washington state. Below are the top 6 neighborhoods in Tacoma, but we suggest looking at many more, as you always need to know which will fit your needs best.
- North End- Beautiful landscaping and a high walkability level make this Tacoma neighborhood one of the best.
- Northeast Tacoma- Quiet, safe, and connected to some of the better schools in the city.
- Central- Several lovely parks and good restaurants make this one of the more popular neighborhoods in Tacoma.
- West End- Highly rated public schools, beautiful, tree-lined streets, and some of the city’s better-priced homes.
- New Tacoma- Although expensive, New Tacoma is well-kept and quiet and connected to better schools.
- Southend- Many shopping and restaurant options, plus nice parks, set this Tacoma neighborhood apart from the rest.
Tacoma’s Job Market
Tacoma’s projected job growth is slightly lower than the country’s average at 27.78%. That said, the unemployment rate in the city is 7.3%, which is a bit higher than the U.S. average of 6%. Job growth has been positive year-over-year, and the average salary in the city is just under $70,000. The major employers in Tacoma include the military, aerospace, federal government, and healthcare industry.
Tacoma’s Public School System
There are 100 public schools in Tacoma’s public school system, many of which get an A. That includes Curtis Senior High School, the #30 best public high school in the state, as well as Curtis Junior High School, which is the #39 best public middle school in Washington. You should note, however, that the city gets a grade of B overall, which is good but not excellent.
Top 10 Things to Do In Tacoma, WA
Like most major cities, you’ll find a wide variety of fun, engaging, and exciting things to do in Tacoma, Washington. Below, we’ve listed 10 of the best!
- Tacoma Art Museum- One of the best art museums in the country.
- Tacoma Nature Center- 70 acres of Tacoma’s phenomenal nature to explore
- American Lake- A gorgeous lake with 2 connected parks.
- Destiny Harbor Tours- The best way to see Tacoma and simultaneously have an exciting day on the water!
- Swan Creek Park- A lovely park to see Tacoma’s natural beauty up close.
- Children’s Museum of Tacoma- A museum made specifically for the kids.
- Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium- Over 30 acres of animals and sea life to enjoy and marvel at.
- Mount Rainier National Park is rated as one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the United States.
- Museum of Glass- A unique attraction with 75,000 square feet of artwork.
- Owen Beach- The city’s most popular beach, located on Puget Sound’s banks.
Let Northwest Self Storage Help You Move to Tacoma, WA
Northwest Self Storage offers clean, safe, and secure storage units in Tacoma, WA if you’re moving to Tacoma soon or just arrived. With the top features in the storage industry and the highest safety and security levels, your household goods will stay pristine with Northwest!
Of course, you can also store with Northwest if you live in Tacoma or own a business or retail location in the city. Whatever you need to store, from tools and supplies to overstock, files, documents, and even wine collections, we have the storage units in Tacoma, WA, to fit your needs to a “T”. Not sure which size storage unit you need? If so, our storage unit size guide can help! Enjoy your new life in Tacoma!